Photo Album

Bismarck

Of all capital ships of the German Kriegsmarine, battleship Bismarck
was the most famous one, despite (or maybe because of) having been lost
on the first operational mission.

Bismarck was built in Hamburg, Germany. It was the first of a class
of two heavy ships, (Tirpitz being the second). These Battleships were
the first ones not to be restricted by the post-World War I limitations
imposed by the treaty of Versailles. The new ships were to be in the
45,000-ton limit, much bigger than any other ship in service with the
German Navy at the time, and featuring guns and protection of similar
scale to those of the best foreign combat ships.

Bismarck was commissioned in August 1940 and spent the rest of
that year running trials and continuing her outfitting. The first
months of 1941 were largely devoted to training operations in the
Baltic sea.

In May 1941, Bismarck was sent out to the Atlantic for her first
combat mission, accompanied by the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. It would
begin with an outstanding success. On the morning of May 24th,
while west of Iceland, the German vessels encountered the British
battlecruiser Hood and battleship Prince of Wales. In the ensuing
Battle of the Denmark Strait, Hood blew up and sank after a very short
engagement, the seriously damaged Prince of Wales was forced to
retreat. Bismarck also suffered some damage resulting in fuel
leaks.

Having been detected by the Royal Navy, Bismarck began a voyage
toward France, where she could be repaired. In the meantime, the
British developed a massive chasing operation involving no less than 7
battleships, 2 aircraft carriers and over 90 other ships. The Bismarck
was found and attacked by carrier planes and surface ships, ultimately
sustaining a torpedo hit in the stern that rendered her unable to steer
effectively. British battleships and heavy cruisers intercepted the
crippled ship on the morning of May 27th. After less than two hours of
battle, shells and torpedoes had reduced Bismarck to a wreck. She
capsized and sank, with the loss of all but 110 of her crew of some
2300 men.

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Bismarck was built by
the Blohm und Voss shipyard in Hamburg. The completed hull was
launched on February 14th, 1939. The launch ceremony was widely
publicized by the Nazi propaganda at the time. The ship was
christened by Dorothea von Loewenfeld, granddaughter of the German
chancellor Otto von Bismarck.

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Here she is afloat
just after launching - see the decorated bow! Photo taken at the
Blohm und Voss shipyard, Hamburg, Germany, 14 February 1939.

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Bismarck in advanced
stage of completion at Blohm und Voss, Hamburg, December 1939.

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Fitting out at the
Blohm und Voss shipyard. This view shows the extent of the ship's side
armor and the newly-installed
"Atlantic" bow - compare it with the short bow visible on
the previous photos.

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Another photo taken at
the shipyard in late-1939, this one shows details of her stern and
the extent of her belt armor aft.

Photographed around
August 1940, when Bismarck was first completed.
Rangefinders atop her tower and conning tower have not yet been
installed.

Leaving the shipyard the bettleship was painted in light grey overall,
with superstructure in pale grey or white.

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A most spectacular
view of the Bismarck taken for the press around August 1940, still
prior to installation of the rangefinders atop her tower and conning
tower. This photo shows to advantage details of the superstructure.
Note also the prominent contour of the armor belt on the hull.

This particular image appeared in a Spanish publication, circa 1941,
and was forwarded to the US by the U.S. Naval Attache, Madrid, whose
stamp appears at left.

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Bismarck photographed
from astern, showing stern anchor in its recessed well, folding
propeller guards, armor belt and other details of hull and
superstructure.

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Another copy
from the contemporary press, this time German magazine. This
photograph too is believed to be taken around August 1940, and the rangefinders
are missing also in this view.

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Bismarck's
superstructure.

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Bismarck seen from the
heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen as the two ships practice towing and
refueling by trailing hose in the Baltic, April-May 1941.

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One of the better
photographs of Bismarck in her operational guise, it shows her at
sea en route to Norway, circa 19-20 May 1941, prior to her Atlantic
sortie. It shows the camouflage pattern applied on top of the
original grey scheme, including the false bow and stern intended to
conceal the true size of the ship. The deck visible in the front
belongs to Prinz Eugen.

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Bismarck and Prinz
Eugen took a temporary stop in Norway enroute to the Atlantic. Here
they are in a Norwegian fjord Grimstadfjord, south of Bergen, on 21
May 1941.

It is claimed that
Bismarck's camouflage was painted over before she departed the area.

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Bismarck in action
against HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales during the Battle of
the Denmark Strait, 24 May 1941.

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Photographed from the
heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen on 24 May 1941, following the Battle of
the Denmark Strait and before the two German ships separated, this
is the next to last photograph of the Bismarck ever taken by the
Germans. It shows that Bismarck is somewhat down by the bow, the
result of hits received in her engagement with HMS Prince of Wales
and HMS Hood earlier in the day. It has been for this reason Admiral
Günther Lütjens decided to seek the nearest harbor on the French
Atlantic coast.

Note that the prominent black-and white camouflage stripes seen on
the previous photos are not present on this picture - the evidence
that Bismarck was repainted during its stop in Norway.

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